Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth…

“All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous, unpremeditated act without benefit of experience.” Henry Miller

Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth… Tentacles of a budding Japanese Peony

Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth… Japanese Peony budding.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth… Japanese Peony growing.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth… Japanese Peony fully formed buds

Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth… Japanese Peony flower

Growth of Man — like Growth of Nature — by Emily Dickinson
Growth of Man — like Growth of Nature —
Gravitates within —
Atmosphere, and Sun endorse it —
Bit it stir — alone —

Everywhere we look, every time we turn, there is growth going on, in some fashion and form. Growth is a constant in our lives and when we, nature, man, including all flora and fauna stop growing, we begin the process of dying. Frankly, some will argue that the process is simultaneous; we grow and die in complex ways daily. Growth occurs seamlessly, following the natural rhythms and patterns of life. Everything that grows eventually dies… Why not treat each other nicely while we still have time? For this photo challenge on growth, I found my interpretations in my surroundings; I added shots from a Japanese peony, baby deer with mom and older deer, thriving tomatoes plants and more… I also added a Dickinson poem written in four stanzas and split it up accordingly. Feedback is always appreciated.

Each — its difficult Ideal
Must achieve — Itself —
Through the solitary prowess
Of a Silent Life —

We have plenty of deer in our area, and they are probably no longer afraid of humans. We occupied their land, slowly built more homes on their terrain, and as foraging areas for food became scarce, they included our gardens and yards in their grazing zone… Such is the nature of growth and change. (The last picture was taken in Japan, the first three from my kitchen window, and the fourth across the street from my home).

“Change and growth take place when a person has risked himself and dares to become involved with experimenting with his own life.” Herbert A. Otto

We planted some tomatoes, in huge containers, on our balcony/terrace last year. We weren’t sure they’d do well because the sun isn’t always strong there. But the tomato plants thrived and grew and grew; producing generous servings of the most succulent tomatoes. Even the birds got some… More below.

“Our consciousness rarely registers the beginning of a growth within us any more than without us; there have been many circulations of the sap before we detect the smallest sign of the bud.” George Eliot

Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth… Japanese garden in Kyoto… all life forms welcomed

Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth… Bleeding hearts growing

Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth… Bleeding hearts blooming

Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth… Baby monkey growing today

Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth… Adult monkey tomorrow.

Growth of Man — like Growth of Nature — by Emily Dickinson
Growth of Man — like Growth of Nature —
Gravitates within —
Atmosphere, and Sun endorse it —
Bit it stir — alone —

Each — its difficult Ideal
Must achieve — Itself —
Through the solitary prowess
Of a Silent Life —

Looking on — is the Department
Of its Audience —
But Transaction — is assisted
By no Countenance — via famouspoetsandpoems.com

Growth is all around us; both seen and unseen. We can go with the flow or stagnate by refusing to shift our ways…. Nevertheless, the cycle continues at its own magical pace. Thank you for stopping by and wishing you a great weekend and opportunities for positive growth! For more flowers from my garden and visits, do check out my submission and click “Collect Me” to help my entry in the One Life Photography Competition via eliz obih-frank. You can submit your photos too. Thank you! Have a blessed day! I will be stopping by yours and other posts to cheer all on. After all, isn’t that what blogging is supposed to be about? I know… some have forgotten. Have an awesome weekend! I’ll see you later. 😉Thank you for stopping by! Hope you enjoyed this! What are your thoughts? What photos did you share on Growth to fit the task? Was it easy/hard to find photos that supported your perspective on the subject? Were you drawn to certain types of photos for the prompt? Do share? Thank you! 🙂 😉

*Please bear with me as I continue to catch up on your blogs and commenting… Thank you all for your patience! 🙂

My fellow bloggers were equally creative with their selections. I listed several via Zemanta & WP Daily Post below. (I will update it and add more). We all appreciate trackbacks/ping-backs and Likes from fellow bloggers too! Check out how others interpreted the theme – GROWTH – also below. ***

This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth… Growth. These small (believe me, they were small) grapes in Napa Valley are getting ready for the harvest later this fall, when they will be turned into wine. Plants, animals, people, grow…but so can buildings, shadows, and waves. What can you share that makes the viewer think of growth? Share a picture that means GROWTH to you!

Positive Motivation Tip: Growth is a constant in our lives and around us. It occurs seamlessly, following the natural rhythms and patterns of life. Engage it!

When I was scrolling down this post and saw the red tomatoes after seeing the green tomatoe plants I could feel my heart leap with excitment. :+) I supose I like the first stages of growth, but I am also excited to see the plant bare fruit. Seems like a lot of my pain over the last few months has been baring some new fruit of it’s own. :+)

Glad to read this Star and i can relate too… Much of what we experience we don’t really share on the internet. I write my positive posts because they help me too, not because my life is perfect. It isn’t. Some bloggers don’t seem to get that point. Thankfully many others do. TY!
Blessings to you! 🙂

It’s such a Joy to see wildlife. It is one of my favorite things I feel so honored when wild animals show up and I get to take a photo. Blurry or sharp to me isn’t as important as having the moment to appreciate them.

True… I watched them from my kitchen window and felt so grateful that they felt safe enough to hang out in my backyard. Some families have dogs so the deer stay away from those homes. Yes, it was a special moment. TY! 🙂

beautiful sequence with the Japanese peony. and those speckled fawns. the deer hide out in the tall grass in summer so I rarely see them here. and we have 5 tomatoes ripening in the south window – a bumper crop! 🙂 great post!

Wow, I think this must be one of your best blog posts ever, and that’s saying something! Such a multitude of things to think about, and really wonderful photos. It’s very profound. I love the George Eliot quote. Congrats on an awesome post Elizabeth!